Breaking Dawn-

I have finally finished the last book in Stephanie Meyer's Twilight series. Honestly over all I felt like the book was very mature for middle school high school students. Let me explain, in addition to the violent and graphic descriptions, there were serveral references to sensual material throughout the entire series.

I can understand how the series can be interesting and very entertaining as it encompasses many aspects of love, romance and family but it is hard to overlook the blatant references to sexuality. I was disheartened as I was hoping that the novel would be a fun and exciting book without the mature romantic sections.

This is an important series of blogs even though I have mentioned numerous times that this series is not for kids for several reasons

1. This a HUGE cultural trend among the youth

2. There is a movie coming out this fall on these books so the hype over these books will only grow

Above all my friends...."guard your heart for it affects all that you do"

Not Right Now Honey.....

"Ten Ways to Keep a Toddler Entertained in the Kitchen"
Written by Teresa Kolvek
For full article click here

Quick Verison:
*Have one cabinet to explore. Put boxed and canned goods in that cabniet
*High chair Math: Put the toddler in a high chair and dump out some oats and give them measuring spoons and cups
*Stickers
*Give them a task: sort mail, put boxes in cabniet in order tallest to smallest
*Let them help with tasks like washing fruit, tearing lettuce etc.
*Give them a child-sized broom and let them sweep kitchen
* Dance to the music

"How to talk on the phone when you have a preschooler"
Article written by: Susan Dunn
Full Article here

The Highlights:

*Hug your preschooler. They find comfort in hearing your voice

*Get a headset.

*Color or doodle with preschooler when you are on the phone

* Make eye contact "mouthing" and using facial expressions to praise and for moments of "mom watch this"

Potty Time

"Tips for Potty Traing"-Jennifer Ellis
Get the whole article Here
Cliff Notes Verison of the article:
*Timing is everything. If child is hesitant or refuses wait a few weeks and then try again.
*NEVER EVER flush potty when the child is on it
*Fix child's favorite drink on the first day and let them have a lot of it so that they can practice using the potty
*Make sure to feed your child plenty of fruits and veggies so that they don't have trouble going to the potty
*About 2 hrs before bed limit the drinks. Have the child sit on the potty before they go to bed
*Make the bed and then put a plastic sheet over it and then another sheet over that. So that if the child goes to the potty during the night all you have to do is remove the soiled sheet and the plastic sheet
*Fruit loops or goldfish in toliet bowl
*A little dish soap in the bowl makes bubbles

Toddler Bitting

"Why toddlers bite and what you can do about it" posted by http://www.christian-parent.com/

Noodles and Doodles from this article:
Toddler bite
to discover thier world.
they are facinated with the whole cause and effect thing
to get attention
copying other toddler's behavoir
out of frustration. What can't be said in words is expressed through biting.

How to prevent bitting
Find out the toddlers motivation for biting and provide a substitute for the behavoir. If the toddler is biting because they need attention. Play a game with the todddler.

Toddler Week

I have noticed that I haven't written much about parenting toddlers on this blog.

So for that reason I have decided that this week we will dedicate to toddler games, discipline and current topics.

Feel free to comment.

But I don't wanna go...

I found this great arictle Christianity Today. This article "Raising Great Kids" is written by Dr. Henry Cloud & John Townsend.

Here are the Highlights of that article.

Helping Kids Understand Significance of Time Limits.

1. Get in touch with your own frustrations:

It is time to leave and your kid is throwing a tantrum. Understand your own feelings and get those under control before you proceed.

2. Make Expectations Clear before you go to the designated place.

"We are going to the park for a little while. At the end of our park time I expect you to pick up all your toys and follow me to the car without crying and screaming. If you don't behave nicely then we will not go back to the park tomorrow like we were planning to do."

3. Offer a heads up:

Let the child know that they have about 10 more min of fun. Give the child a 5 min signal.

If the child resists:

Offer a clear choice:

I know it is tough to leave a place when you are having fun but you are faced with a choice. You can either kick and scream and not come back to the park tomorrow or you can be sad about leaving but come to the car nicely and be able to come to the park tomorrow and play again. Which do you choose?

When the child is in the midst of thier tantrum you can empathize but you must keep your limits.

Kind Words...how to teach children to use them

I found this wonderful link that give easy practical tips to use with kids to help them understand the difference between kind words and unkind words and the effects that those words have on people.
Here's the link have fun.
Manners

How to Stay Calm and Collected when Correcting Your Child

This is not the ultimate how to but it is a start.

Here are some noodles and doodles from an article written by Ginger Plowman entitled "Disciplining Your Child Without Loosing Your Cool" published on family life.

Number One is the best and most convicting one in my opinion.

1. Examine Your Motives:

"Am I doing this because my will has been violated or God's will has been violated?

2. Examine Your life:

What example do you lead with? Have you made your kid angry leading up to this behavior?

3. Choose the right time and place:

Don't discipline in front of their friends if possible take them away from friends. This will ensure that the focus of the child is not humiliation but rather on their undesirable action.

4. Give them a biblical alternative to the behavior.

Don't just address the problem but rather give them something to do in contrast to the undesirable behavior for next time.

Tattle Tale

MOOOOMMMMMYYYYYY......Johny took my yellow crayon and broke it.

Tattling... ask any kid who isn't the tattler and you will know that even among their own kid circles they don't like tattlers.

Here are a few Nuts and bolts taken from an article entitled "Taming the Tattletale" by Ginger Plowman which was published on family life website.

Nuts and Bolts:
What Motivates a tattler?
According to Ginger Plowman tattling is typically motivated by "one sibling taking pleasure in the other siblings suffering".
What can I help my tattler not tattle?

Taken from Ginger Plowman's articles "Taming the Tattletale" and "Damaging Effects of Tattle-Bearing"

1. Help tattler understand his or her motivation: Ask questions such as "Are you telling mommy this to get "Johny" in trouble or is there another reason for telling me this?

2. Help Tattler understand the damaging effects of tale-bearing.

3. Help tattler replace tattling with encouragement.

4. Teach tattler to practice what he or she has learned.

Helping children practice what they have learned....

Role playing: Allow the children to set up a tattle taling situation and then gently lead them through an appropriate way to handle the matter. For example, Suzy instead of running to tell mommy that Johny broke your crayon you can encourage him to please not break the crayon and instead color with it.

This Week's Topic

This week I will be discussing discplining your child. Every parent does it differently so I would love if you commented on the blogs and gave me some of your very own parenting tips as well as comment on some of the articles and blurbs you read about discipline.

What the I learned from the Dog Whisper

My husband and I both love to watch the dog whisper we love how Ceasar Milan can take an out of control situation and change a few pratical things to make it a peaceful enviornment.

Although Ceasar works with dogs and they are very different than people. I would like to share with you what I learned from Ceasar in an effort to help with Sunday School Classrooms.

1. Be the Pack Leader

I have heard Ceasar tell people many times even if you are nervous just remain calm and stay in control of the situation. Good advice.

2. Set Boundaries and Limitations

Boundaries and Limitations are critical to a well fuctioning classroom. On the first day, remind students of the rules (keep them concise and short). Remind them often of the rules just in case they forget and follow through on the rules.

3. Address the Problem before it starts

If you notice more than five kids getting squirmy maybe it is time for some stretching or snack break. Don't wait till the squirms over power the classroom address the problem before it starts.

Project Car

So I am working on this project car with my dad (not the one in the picture) and wow what a project car it is. During my time fixing up this car I have had more oil on me than on the car. My fingernails are black from dirt and oil. I smell gross after being under the hood of this car for hours on end but it's fun. I keep going because I have an idea of what I would like the car to look like when I am done. It is that hope that keeps me working on this car.
As I was sitting there thinking about this. I started to think about how we are God's masterpieces but he is not done with us yet. I am sure there are times I make God frustrated, happy and even days when I get dirt under his fingernails.
I am so glad that God's thoughts and ways are higher than our own. It is great to know that I am someone's "project car" and that He has a plan and future for me that are beyond my wildest dreams.